Batman Season 2, Episode 11 (1966)
Directed by James Neilson
Written by Bill Finger & Charles Sinclair
Starring Adam West & Burt Ward
Chef’s Note: “Trouble stealing your appetite? Arrest it with our new Batburger.”
Batman is known to be polite but I do think it’s stretching things to say that he (or anyone) could be honored by such a slogan. It doesn’t even make any sense. How do you arrest someone with a hamburger? Throw it at them? Eat it in front of them? Eat them?
As you can see, it’s all quite irrational. And Batman is a really rational guy (a.k.a., World’s Greatest Detective).
Moreover, what exactly makes the burger in the ad a “Batburger“? There’s not even a bat symbol on the bun! Unless it’s made of… bats? Suffice to say, I think this would have at least prompted some questions from Batman (again, World’s Greatest Detective).
Then again, it’s obvious he’s feeling quite out of sorts here because he commences to recklessly order orangeades for both himself and Robin – and doubles at that.
He’s a growing boy, Batman – not your drinking buddy!
Chef’s Note: I was briefly excited when I happened upon this clip because I thought it might be the original Bat Burger.
But no, as you can see, it is an establishment called Dunbar Drive In. I have heard rumors on the interwebs that this was an actual drive-in in Southern CA, used as a shooting location on the show, but I have yet to come across any concrete evidence.*
To further my disappointment, the key image of this video is a lie. There is no scene here of them eating à la car, with all the magic that entails – wondering why they got so many napkins, trying to get the Bat cup-holders to work, getting ketchup and mustard on their costumes and realizing why they got so many napkins, using a Batarang to reach that french fry that fell down between the seats, etc.
And why don’t we get this scene? Because they both immediately jump out of the Batmobile when they arrive.
It’s a drive-in, Batman! It says it right on the sign! World’s Greatest…
Chef’s Note: You might think skin-tight gold lamé pants a bit fancy for a carhop, but you’d be wrong.
